Grand Hotel needlepoint project and class

Mackinac Island in Michigan is a magical place. Automobiles and the like are banned (even UPS and FedEx deliver by horse-drawn “trucks”), so everyone gets around on foot, by bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage. Summer brings sunshine and the brightly colored flowers that bloom at almost every house or building. The lilacs in bloom are cause for big celebration—the Lilac Festival in early June.

One of the most striking and well-known buildings on the island is the Grand Hotel. If you have stayed there, or seen it in a movie (“Somewhere in Time” is set in the hotel), you know the beauty of the grounds and the grand building itself. This new hinged box by Julia’s Needlework’s is designed exclusively for us. It captures the feel of the island with the Grand Hotel, the flowers and carriages and the lilac blooms on top.

Finished as a Limoges-style box, the inside of the lid and the inside bottom can be monogrammed with a special date or names. I’m stitching one of these myself in anticipation of the Kaffe Fassett seminar on the Island Mother’s Day weekend. It has me thinking of Spring, which I hear is just around the corner.

This new design is available on our website.

Antique bird needlepoint by Isabel

I have a thing for antique prints of birds. I kept circling this canvas at Market and finally ordered it on the last day—I couldn’t leave without it. This is a classic, painted on ecru canvas and will be beautiful matted and framed or made as a pillow. It is available on our website.

Bugs, butterflies & feathers from Waterweave

Any of these 3 canvases—butterflies, bugs or feathers—would be beautiful in a wooden tray, framed or as pillows. Each comes with a stitch guide with a color photo of the finished canvas. They are all available on our website.

More needlepoint designs from Waterweave

These holiday trees are bright and cheery and call out for different stitches. Finished as a holiday pillow with fancy trim, this pillow canvas will definitely draw attention.

Mackinac Island is also known as Turtle Island because of its shape, so I am always on the lookout for cool turtle canvases. This sea turtle has a wonderful shape and face. With a wavy background, you can just see him swimming along.
Both are available on our website.